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Philadelphia, PA – On Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2019 the Penn Champions Club concluded the fourth annual Red and Blue Challenge, a department-wide giving competition with the goal of raising awareness and increasing support for Penn Athletics annual funds. During the week-long fundraising challenge, all Penn Athletics alumni, family, athletes and friends were invited to participate and support their team(s) by making a donation to the athletic program(s) of their choice. In addition to its 33 varsity sports programs, Penn Athletics raised money for Sport Clubs, the Penn Band, and Penn Cheerleading.

Gifts made during the Red and Blue Challenge could have an even greater impact, thanks to bonus funds awarded to each winning teams’ annual fund in multiple donor-driven challenge categories. For varsity programs, the challenge categories included: most donors (by fund); most dollars raised; highest alumni participation percentage; and highest young alumni participation (0-10 years from graduation). For Sport Clubs, the team with the most donors won bonus funds.

At the conclusion of the Red and Blue Challenge, donations to Penn’s 33 varsity sports, band and cheer, and sport club programs totaled more than $950,000 from 3,500 gifts. This surpassed the previous Penn Champions Club Giving Tuesday record from 2018, where 1,800 donors raised more than $600,000 during the Challenge. In addition, eleven winning programs claimed bonus funds towards their teams’ annual fund this year: Band, Baseball, Basketball, Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Softball, Wrestling, Club Sailing, and Club Men’s Ice Hockey.

“The Red and Blue Challenge has a major impact on Penn Athletics’ priority of sustaining and supporting Penn Athletics annual funds,” Tim Folan, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development and Alumni Relations, said. “The overwhelming response we received is a testament to the loyalty of our Penn Athletics community and speaks volumes about the student-athlete experience that they care deeply about. We would like to thank everyone who made this possible — our alumni, parents, family, friends, and especially our Board of Overseers and volunteer leadership.”

Annual fundraising is essential to the current and long-term success of Penn’s nearly 1,000 student-athletes across its intercollegiate varsity sports and other programs and is a central priority of the Game Onward Campaign for the Future of Penn Athletics. All gifts made during the Red and Blue Challenge will have a direct impact on Penn student-athletes and sport club participants.

There is still time to support Penn Athletics during the 2019 calendar year. Please contact the Penn Champions Club at 215-898-4717, or to make a gift online in support of Penn student-athletes, visit www.pennathetics.com/supportathletics.